high blood pressure and exercise

I have hypertension stage 1 and am 60lbs over weight, walking up a flight of stairs gets me breathing a bit heavy. I am trying to figure out how I can effectively exercise without raising my blood pressure dangerously, causing an asthma attack (I don't have asthma but when I over exert it feels like it), or causing me to feel sick to my stomach.

My average, just sitting around blood pressure is usually about 155/92 and I am 21 years old. Last time I tried to help a friend move, I carried a fairly heavy box up three flights of stairs and took my blood pressure, it was at 190/126. I didn't go to the ER since I sat for half and hour and was feeling fine again.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Exercising does not raise the blood pressure and might actually lower it (it’s usually stress that does), and would not cause you to develop asthma unless you have a history. At 21 you are too young to have hypertension and I would suggest an evaluation by a primary care physician to rule out secondary treatable causes such as renal artery stenosis. With these high values of blood pressure, you would probably need medications. Values above 170-180 mmHg systolic can be dangerous and an ER visit may be required during such episodes. For the long run, I would advise starting exercising at low intensity like walking for a few weeks and then gradually accelerating the schedule to jogging. You may like to join a gym for the purpose as well. Also lifestyle changes such as low fat low salt diet and smoking cessation (if involved) may be helpful.
Hope this helps.

Take care!

[kgosiking]

My blood pressure raises during exercise, and that is my problem. I also pointed out that I do not have Asthma but when exercising too much, I wheeze and have trouble catching my breath, I didn't say I was developing it.

They have checked for other issues that might cause the high blood pressure but have found no issues. My family has a history of high blood pressure and heart attacks. I am also on a medication for the BP.

And did you consider the 60lbs over weight when you stated I am too young for hypetension?

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Yes, you are still too young to develop hypertension and as suggested I would have advised an evaluation to rule out possible treatable secondary causes. Also as mentioned in the previous post, it’s not the exercise but the stress associated with it that causes the rise in blood pressure. The breathlessness that you experience is not asthma (I suppose you have been tested negative for exercise induced asthma) but occurs due to the increased oxygen demand during exercise. If your blood pressure still remains high on medication, you would probably need a dose adjustment. Now as far as the exercising part goes, it is advised to start at low intensity like walking for a few weeks and then gradually accelerating the schedule to jogging. This would do two things 1. Reduce the stress level 2. Acclimatize your body. Initial low intensity exercises have minimal stress and minimal physical exertion and would help tone your body. Once your body is acclimatized to this kind of work, the intensity of workout can be increased and still increased further till one can handle the stress and the oxygen demand. At no point during the exercise schedule should one get breathless. Breathlessness would just mean that you are exerting more than required or more than what your body is used to. You may like to join a gym for the purpose as well.
Hope this was useful.

Take care!